I’m back again in the city of dreams, empire state of my heart. And before you guys start: yes, I was just here in December, and yes, I could have gone somewhere new.. but the heart wants what it wants, okay? And with that that selena gomez-esqe piece of love advice, moving on..

I touched on iShopChangi briefly in my previous travel posts, but I thought it was about time to do up a proper post on my top five pre-flight purchases in Changi Airport, a post for the Singapore Outbounds. iShopChangi is something I use a lot when I travel, especially if I’m doing a long distance trip or to see friends abroad. For some strange reason, not as many people know about it as you’d expect, but it’s one of those travel hacks that saves you a ton of time, so let me just quickly explain how it works:

iShopChangi is an online store under Changi Airport, where you can pre-purchase your duty-free items online before your flight, and then just pick them up and go when you reach the airport. This is great for people who already know what they want and dont want to waste time running around the airport getting your items, or if you’re taking a very late/early flight and the shops you wanna buy stuff from are likely to be closed before you board the plane.

For me in particular, I hate rushing for my flight because I’ve nearly missed my flight a couple of times due to miscalculating the distance between me and the flight gate, waiting in a line for something or the other, or just, you know, generally being distracted. And because there are certain things I always get when I’m going to fly, it’s just easier for me to pre-purchase it and pick it up, then go chill somewhere near my gate with a cup of starbucks or something. Ha!

So – my Top Five pre-flight buys

Perhaps a more accurate title would be my top five kinds of pre flight buys. I did this more according to category than anything, but you guys can tweak this according to your own needs.

1. Sunscreen

(Available here)
No matter what country you go to, youre going to need sunscreen. I like having a small bottle in my handcarry just so I always have it on hand, rather than having to dig through my luggage to find it upon arrival. It’s not expensive either, and it’ll always be something you need, no matter where you’re going. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you dont need sun protection, ok? Sun damage is the worst!

Ha! Bet you didn’t know you could buy Pineapple Tarts in Changi Airport. I always try to bring a taste of Singapore with me abroad, as a gift to either my friends, or my Airbnb host in whatever country I’m staying in. Throw back: how to be a good airbnb guest. But yes! I bring bottles of Kaya, which you cant really find authentic replicas of anywhere except Singapore or our region, or Ba Kwa/ Pineapple tarts, which you can order from Bee Cheng Hiang on iShopChangi.

3. Electronics: Storage Space

(Available here)
The last time I went abroad I bought a GoPro from duty free (great investment, btw), and this time I got a WD My Passport Ultra portable hard drive. It’s great for people who travel and take lots of high res pics, and for people who have trouble deleting things (like me). What can I say, I hoard, ok? Don’t judge!

But electronics are one of those things you can get in duty free at a great rate, because they’re tax-exempt as long as you’re flying out of singapore. The prices reflected on the website and instore at duty free are already the prices without GST. The savings tend to be quite substantial – I had a look also at the duty-free / in town price difference if you wanna buy a Mac, and its about a hundred bucks. But you’ll have to lug it with you on your trip, then bring it back later. So it’s up to you.

4. Hair Care

(Available here)
This is crucial for me because my hair is bleached to death. But hey, your version could be travel sized moisturisers for the plane, sleeping masks, and so on. Mine is a very intensive leave in treatment for the hair, which I apply liberally at intervals throughout the flight. To each his/ her own, am I right?

5. The Splurge: Travel Exclusives

(Available here)
Now, this may not apply to everyone, but I find that travel exclusives make great gifts for people, or even for yourself if you’ve always wanted to stock up on that particular skincare product that’s mad expensive outside. They’re normally travel sized, or full sized products paired with travel sized samples. It’s still pricey, but less so than if you’d get them in town. I personally also know lots of people who stock up on their makeup and skincare before their flights because of the tax exemption, so this is kind of an extension of that too.

—–

I think that’s about it – my top five pre-flight buys! Of course, there’s also the pre flight cuppa that I always have out of habit, but people tend to like those fresh, so, you know. Get it yourself when you reach the airport. But otherwise, pre-buying your other items saves you a load of time, effort, and stress running around before your flight, and it’s so great that our local airport offers this service so definitely take advantage of it!

In the spirit of GSS, iShopChangi is launching GSS promos in mid-June, which is perfect timing since it’s just about when all of you start jetting off for the summer – lucky draws, additional tax savings, free gifts, etcetera etcetera. Full details here:

1) Daily winner will be picked to shop for free (capped at $500)
– Total of 28 winners, selected randomly from new orders made on iShopChangi
2) For the first 10 days of the GSS promo (13 – 22 June), shoppers get to enjoy double GST savings i.e. additional 7% off on top of GST savings (with min. spend of $280)
3) Over 50 special GSS deals only available during promotional period
4) Receive a free gift with every purchase during promo period, while stocks last
5) Stand 2x chance to be a Changi Millionaire with every online purchase of min. $50

I’m particularly keen on the last point, because the allure of randomly becoming a millionaire just by shopping is too much for me – I’m really huffed about the fact that despite traveling so much and spending a disproportionate amount of money on makeup/coffee/dutyfree items at the airport, I am still unfortunately not a millionaire yet. I actually asked Changi whether anyone has won it yet and turns out the guy who won it the last time just bought some really random thing, and he just entered for fun. For fun! He became a millionaire by winning a lucky draw he did for fun!! Life is sometimes not very fair. Write that down, kids.

Anyway, even though I am not a millionaire yet (thx Changi), Changi Airport Group is still giving out shopping vouchers to you guys (thx Changi), proving that you dont have to be dirty rich to be generous. Again, write that down, kids. Rule of life.

We’re giving away $50 vouchers for iShopChangi to 3 of you. There are terms and conditions and they are below, in italics. But if you want to win, all you have to do is to comment on my instagram photo telling me what your favourite pre-flight buy is. Sah easy! And Changi will pick three of you, and you will get e-money, and you can have nice things. Go do it now.

So three of you will be very lucky very soon. But for the rest of you, you’re also winners. And you know why? Because we’ve given you the gift of time, time saved not having to run around buying your essentials before your flight. Boom.

Safe travels, happy jetsetting, you guys.

x
Jem

Previously mentioned terms and conditions:*Valid till 31 Dec 2016 (2359hrs, SG time).
The eVoucher is in Singapore currency and is only valid in a single transaction at iShopChangi.com
The eVoucher is only for bona fide outbound, inbound and transit passengers travelling through or arriving in Singapore Changi Airport.
The eVoucher is valid for one-time use per customer, is non-exchangeable, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions, offers, eVouchers etc.
The eVoucher is considered redeemed if the customer cancels the order.
Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd reserves the right to vary the terms and conditions herein at any time at its discretion.

Comments

On the 12th June, I bought some bak-gua from bee chieng heng. I was being over charged by the counter staff. A bag of 500grams pork jerky was charged twice. $26 over charged. I didn’t realised it until I was back in my hometown. Very disappointed as it is very obvious that a 500grms is a small bag and I don’t why the staff didn’t pick this up. I was rushing to catch my flight and I just hand over the card to the staff.

My favourite stuff that I bought is Mac Pemcil lipstick and Jurlique handcream. I swear by thos cream. Even my 9 year old son, who is prone to dry flaky skin on his fingers – used for a couple of nights and bingo! No more peeling….

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I shoot on the Nikon D750 with a 35f1.8 prime lens unless otherwise stated. Pictures for Instagram are taken either with my camera or with the Samsung Note8.
My photos are post processed with Adobe Lightroom on the Macbook Pro or VSCO on the iPhone.